A Few of My Favorite Things 3.0

I can't remember if I've ever been SO excited for Christmas SO early.  I mean, can't you feel it?  I try not to listen to Christmas music or get out any decorations before Thanksgiving, but I just don't know if I can help myself!  We are celebrating Christmas with Chad's extended family (We can't wait, Laughlins!) over Thanksgiving, so maybe that's why?  Who knows!  All I know is that some of my favorite things involve the holidays, so don't hate.  Here we go:

#1- If you can't enjoy the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte', then I've got the next best thing for YOU!  This creamer really does come close to the real thing.  My initial thoughts: Pumpkin flavor + coffee flavor = scary.  My current thoughts: pumpkin spice goodness + coffee flavor = pure delight.  Seriously, Coffee-mate should hire me to be a spokesperson.  If you aren't into pumpkin, Chad likes the eggnog creamer.  

#2- This is a GREAT holiday compilation album.  I secretly listened to it on Monday.  I know it's a bit early, so don't tell anyone I did.  It features lovely ladies like Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Brandi Carlile, KT Tunstall, Fiona Apple, Colbie Caillat, and more!  Get it on iTunes for Christmas.  I promise you won't regret it!

#3- What did mothers do before Mylicon/Simethicone/Gas Drops?  I am proud to say that we have never had a "colicky" or fussy baby.  You would think that at least one of the three would be, right?  NOPE!  Chad and I (with our parental intuition) think we owe it all to these magical drops.  They are miraculous.  Marce' Hennigan told us about these things many moons ago, and now we should own stock in them.  If Sam's or Costco sold them in bulk, we would buy them.  Moms-to-be or moms with fussy babies- pump them full of these little drops!

#4- We are suckers for holiday decor.  I would say that I alone am the sucker, but Chad would easily confess that he shares this burden.  In our Atmore house, we had a tree (of some shape or size) in every room.  Some were mini, some were medium, and two of them were large.  Unfortunately, our current house will NOT allow for all of our trees.  Nor will our current house allow for stockings hung on a mantle.  I know, I might shed a tear too!  Anyhow, we will trudge on and enjoy Christmas and all of its decor to the fullest extent.  Seriously, what is more fun than watching two little girls and a baby boy enjoy this blessed holiday with such awe and childlike innocence?  I can't wait!

#5- Chad recently purchased these fun do-it-yourself crafty books for me.  I have read them.  I haven't tried any of their projects . . . but I'm excited to try them some day.  They are really cute and have inspired me to start getting crafty!  Isn't that what stay-at-home moms do?

#6- Harper has "school time" every morning.  I have been really surprised by her motor skills and progress.  I am no elementary education major (thankfully my sister is!), but I'm trying to teach her to write her name, learn her letters, and color inside the lines.  She is doing great.  I particularly like her use of color!  I love keeping samples of her writing and coloring.

#7-I can't resist this face.  Enough said.

Our New BFF's

I'm so thankful for Young Life.  When we moved to Manhattan, we immediately had built in best friends.  Our Young Life leaders are at our house several nights a week (which makes me clean the house more often).  They love on my children, they bring me Sonic, they help me cook, they make me laugh, the loan me Gilmore Girls DVD's, they watch Oprah with me, they keep me up to date on pop culture, and they make me feel OLD!  I FEEL like college was yesterday, but the reality of things is that we are OLD!  Here are some photos of our new BFF's.

The whole gang at our fall leader retreat

Yes, that is Cash with Sydney and Cameron.  No, they don't always dress like that.

Young Life Banquet

Some of our wonderful committee members after the banquet

The Leadership Team (minus a few).  This crew comes to our house every Wednesday night.

Sydney's surprise birthday party (1 of 2 that night)

Tacky Ice Cream Social 2009

We LOVE you guys!  Thanks for welcoming us into the YL fam!

SBG

Room Time

Every day the girls have 1 hour of "room time" where they must play in their room together.  This is usually time for me to do laundry, drink coffee, pay bills, drink coffee, do dishes, and drink coffee.  They usually drag out every single toy and book, but it's OK because they are in their room and playing nicely.  When room time ended today, I went in their room to find them.

I looked by the window,

I looked under the bed,

and then the closet door slowly opened . . .

to reveal two little girls and LOTS of toys.

They were happy, so I was happy.

Harper wasn't so happy when it was time to clean up!

I love my creative girlies!

Purple Party

Although it was back in September, I thought some of you (Liz) might want to see some pics from Harper's 3rd Birthday.  It was really a celebration all week long!  When I asked Harper what type of party she wanted, she was adamant about having a PURPLE party.  She also requested that everyone coming to her party wore purple as well.  Seeing that KSU's colors are purple and silver, that wasn't a problem!  We partied at one of the many parks here in Manhattan.  All of her grandparents came, as well as Uncle Blake and her FAVORITE cousin Sarah Ann.  Lots of our new Young Life friends came to make the party so perfect.  It was SUCH a fun weekend and I literally can't believe my little girl is 3.  She is SO curious, social, talkative, and goofy.  She loves to make you laugh and she definitely enjoys bossing Reese and Cash around.  She is our little purple princess!

On Harper's actual birthday, we started the day with donuts

We also had a surprise party that day

Several of our awesome Young Life leaders were waiting at our house for the big surprise.  Harper's reaction was PRICELESS!

Chad bringing in the funfetti cake.  What's a birthday without funfetti?

Our little party set-up.  The picture in the frame is from Harper's first birthday

As soon as Harper's grandparents arrived on Saturday, it was PRESENT TIME

Some of her favorite gifts were Barbies, a My Little Pony, and a little polly pocket Snow White

Sarah Ann came with Nan and Pops to enjoy the weekend

Purple Party Day!

My girls ready to party in purple!

They are only about 1 year apart, but Sarah Ann towers over Harper!

Jumping for joy

Harper's cake

(Pops- what would I do without you?)

Purple Cupcakes

The spread

The goodie bags

The Cash

Ready to blow out the candle

She did this completely unprompted by anyone!

LOVING the cake!

Papa helping Reese with her cupcake

Some of our party-goers

Reese spent about 2 hours in this swing and still wasn't ready to leave!

Gram helping Harper

Sweet cousins

The Birthday Girl!

I LOVE this photo of Will with his balloon

After the party, Chad and I took Harper and Sarah Ann to the splash park.  They couldn't BELIEVE that they were able to play in the water in their clothes!  They were hilarious.

They LOVED the COLD water

Posing

Don't you love their faces?

Sarah Ann was drinking the water

After the splash pad, they played on the playground.  This thing spins around and it is MY favorite thing to play on at the park.  After the park, we took these two to the candy store.  They were in complete awe of all the candy.

They closed out their BUSY day with a movie.

The adults closed out THEIR day with Guitar Hero.  Nan, you were a trooper!

Nan loves Guitar Hero.

It was an AMAZING Birth-week for Harper and we LOVED having family and friends here to celebrate.  We are so thankful to have people who love our kids so extravagantly.

SBG